Japanese Niche Games Deals & Discussion Thread 4.0

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shivan128

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Welcome to the Japanese niche games deals and discussion thread!  Feel free to talk about local and import Japanese games here.  Our goal is to maintain a thread dedicated to active deals on niche games including RPGs, Visual Novels (VN), Shoot'em ups (Shmups), Musou, etc.  Also maintained are pre-orders for standard, limited and collector's edition games with key release dates provided.

I've wikified the thread to make it more friendly and open to others that can actively update with important information. You can find the wiki post directly below this one.

NOTE:  Please, leave the censorship discussion away from this thread.  It's common for japanese games to have questionable content outside of the country.  We want to keep discussions to the game itself and not about cultural/societal tolerance.

A message from Thorbahn:

Our CAG Japanese Niche Games Thread also has a community on PS4, where you can interact and game with other members of the thread.

Our moderators are: Draekon, Las_Hole, and Waffleswanton

You can basically friend any of our members, or any moderator, and you will be able to request to join the community under "Communities friends are in" tab, and a mod will approve your request.

You can also leave your PSN ID in the thread, saying you want to join, and we can invite you directly as well.

As always, have fun and enjoy your stay!

 
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I’ve never sold a game, and have only permanently given away like, four. I still have all the packaging, manuals, and everything else that came in the box for my games going back to the DMG and Genesis.

Because, as it turns out, most of what I have is worth less than what it was bought for, or at the very best is worth about its original MSRP after taking inflation into account. The one game I have that’s actually worth anything is the Drakengard 3 CE, still sealed in box. Part of me is tempted to sell it, but the only reason I never opened it is because my stupid PS3 died. I still wanna play the damn thing, I just can’t find a cheap PS3 in good condition and Sony still hasn’t released a console since then that can play PS3 discs.

Probably going to get frame-perfect PS3 emulation before they do, at this rate.

I guess the most valuable game I ever parted with was My World, My Way for DS, which I found pretty dull and traded to a friend in exchange for her buying me Avalon Code. Which is a much better game, so even though it retailed for less and is worth significantly less on ebay these days, I still don’t consider it a real loss.
 
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Souffrir said:
I’ve never sold a game, and have only permanently given away like, four. I still have all the packaging, manuals, and everything else that came in the box for my games going back to the DMG and Genesis.

Because, as it turns out, most of what I have is worth less than what it was bought for, or at the very best is worth about its original MSRP after taking inflation into account. The one game I have that’s actually worth anything is the Drakengard 3 CE, still sealed in box. Part of me is tempted to sell it, but the only reason I never opened it is because my stupid PS3 died. I still wanna play the damn thing, I just can’t find a cheap PS3 in good condition and Sony still hasn’t released a console since then that can play PS3 discs.

Probably going to get frame-perfect PS3 emulation before they do, at this rate.

I guess the most valuable game I ever parted with was My World, My Way for DS, which I found pretty dull and traded to a friend in exchange for her buying me Avalon Code. Which is a much better game, so even though it retailed for less and is worth significantly less on ebay these days, I still don’t consider it a real loss.
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I just find that hard to believe... if you have all the original box/manual for GB games (dunno about Genesis), they should be worth a decent bit, more than their original MSRP unless you're factoring in inflation or unless you just have a ton of sports games or shovelware (like card/casino game collections). Even common stuff like Mario Land or Donkey Kong goes for like $70 if they're CIB.

Also, a working slim or super slim PS3 is pretty easy I thought. I found one that's super rough shape that I got in some lot and it works fine. Just need to clean it out and then might use it as my backup PS3 and retire software BC model.

I also need finish cataloging my entire collection in GameEye before I know for sure what my most valuable game is, I think it was my sealed LoU Post Pandamic but I think some of the Pokemon bundles or maybe Pokemon Box are going for more now. I think I'm like half-way done but it's so... time consuming. 🫠
 
Grabbed Xenoblade Chronicles X. Was pretty tempted on Mario Wonder, but I’m hoping it’ll go cheaper by the holdiays.

Still tempted to grab AA Investigations, but I think I prefer playing that series on DS/3DS.
 
TheKbob said:
I'm always bummed that Woot doesn't have a free shipping option. Usually kills my interest on the deals. I tend to watch GameFly more.
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I'm assuming a lot of people just have Prime so they get free shipping.

I placed an order for a few games, just hope they arrive in decent condition.
 
Happy to see official confirmation, even though Yuri Lowenthal basically confirmed its existence and his own absence a couple weeks ago. I'm ok with them casting new VAs that sound more like kids. As long as they are cast as a natural performance and not forced to awkwardly come as close as possible to the original English VA (P3R's Yukari, cringe).

I imagine there will at minimum be a $25 expansion pass locking the Marie dungeon.
 
gospelman said:
Happy to see official confirmation, even though Yuri Lowenthal basically confirmed its existence and his own absence a couple weeks ago. I'm ok with them casting new VAs that sound more like kids. As long as they are cast as a natural performance and not forced to awkwardly come as close as possible to the original English VA (P3R's Yukari, cringe).

I imagine there will at minimum be a $25 expansion pass locking the Marie dungeon.
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Wouldn't they have to make significant updates to the overall storyline to account for people without that dungeon? Unlike The Answer, the added content from Golden is sprinkled throughout all of P4 thanks to Marie, so to block that culmination of her arc would be a new scummy low for Atlus...

...So yeah, I guess I could see them doing that.
 
Asset flips of 5s engine so from a "it will make money" stance I can't fault them on that.

I'll admit when the vanilla remakes bottom out in price I'll consider picking them up.
 
Woot seems to be the only place that has consistent sales on niche games anymore. And I've never gotten a non-ESRB copy for any game yet from them (though I don't usually order Nintendo published games from them and I hear they are the major problems with that).
 
I do agree Woot is the place to get NISA (especially Trails but all other games as well), Sega games, PQube, Aksys, Iffy, XSeed and many other just more smaller developer games. Gamestop does still give good niche discounts (and also very iffy NEW copies), but Woot is becoming my top choice. As I mentioned before since more Otome games come out I've been only buying a few on release that I'm more excited for and I'm able to get the others discounted later if I want them. BB, Walmart and Target are not my go tos as much for niche games that drop in price (may be ok to order from them but they don't get very much inventory usually), so we as CAGs got to get the better prices whenever we can.
 
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Josef said:
Woot seems to be the only place that has consistent sales on niche games anymore. And I've never gotten a non-ESRB copy for any game yet from them (though I don't usually order Nintendo published games from them and I hear they are the major problems with that).
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Imports only seem to be a common issue for 1st party NS games, which is also the only time I see that "might get an import" warning. I've never gotten import 3rd party NS game, those have always been ESRB copies.
 
For niche japanese games, I mostly just buy what I want but I limit what I buy to specific series or specific developers/publishers. Stuff like Persona, I can wait for a sale as it's not niche but usually gets plenty produced. But I do keep an eye on Gamefly for price drops and I do keep an eye on deku deals for physical price drops (on switch games) and usually aim for BestBuy deals. For Switch 2 (which I got one on launch thanks to stock at a local walmart), I'm probably just going to go digital but limit my purchases going forward. Of course that might change, but as is, I'm kind of not feeling the urge anymore to collect physical games. I'll do more newegg eshop credit deals ($50 eshop for $40) and then not buy a game until I'm ready to play it unless there's a really excellent sale. Which, I think might work out well. I'm not going to live forever anyway... so while I have loved physical games since the first Atari 2600 games my parents bought... I'm kind of tired of having so much "Stuff" and amassing more becuase there was a sale or whatever.

BTW, I'm loving Mario Kart World. It's pulled me away from anime and pretty much eaten my free time. Saturday morning, I started playing after eating breakfast (8:00) and stopped around 3pm. I didn't even finish the episode of Doctor Who I was watching. Just ate, and was thinking about checking something out in MKW and was just pulled in. The open world part... I'm a huge fan of games with open worlds and of course given Monolith Soft had a hand in the game, I'm loving this mario kart world even more. It reminds me of the wonder of playing GTA San Andreas the first time, except... it's completely clean. Plenty of things to find... mini missions to do... and character skins to unlock. I'm sure this is something I'm going to be playing for a while.

Also, Tokyo Xanadu eX+ does indeed work on Switch 2. My physical cart fired up, downloaded the update, and downloaded my cloud save without problem. Nicely someone confirmed on reddit in the falcom sub that if you own the digital version that it will install and play on the switch 2 as well. But you can't buy it directly from the eshop on switch 2 as it's still listed as incompatible due to start up issues... though you can buy it on the website and get access that way. I didn't play much of it, just enough to confirm it worked. I feel like it even loaded slightly faster even though I own it physical. So, not today... but eventually I'll migrate fully over to the switch 2. Right now, I like that I don't have a ton of icons for stuff and I'm focused on what I'm playing.
 
We can pretty much assume LRG will be late for LEs and you get them like a year after a game releases? I don't know their track record well but it sucked for Persona games, so I'm assuming it still sucks.
 
Vigilante said:
^Darn, my OCD with getting Legend of Heroes steelbooks means I have to get the $80 version, but I'll skip LRG and wait for VGP to get it.
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Exactly my thought.

nitrosmob said:
We can pretty much assume LRG will be late for LEs and you get them like a year after a game releases? I don't know their track record well but it sucked for Persona games, so I'm assuming it still sucks.
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Their reputation continues to be abysmal, yes. Standard editions are hitting their estimates more regularly but CEs are still very late, even past the generous shipping estimates they give themselves.
 
It's weird, I just realized Raidou comes out next week. Probably going to sit on the sidelines and wait for reviews. I'm not really ready for another game right now and I'd like to see how well the Swtich physical is on the Swtich 2 since it seems limiting to just buy the Swtich 2 version (which is a game key card).

As for TitS 1st, just standard for me. I don't have any collectors thing about metal boxes or books or discs with cutdown soundtracks. Just the game and I'm good and I'll just go with Best Buy and be done.
 
peter-griffin-family-guy.gif


I'll buy one used, maybe, when someone wants to recoup some of their losses. Hopefully people put GungHo Online Entertainment on blast all over social media so they don't do any more with LRG. dumbass publisher needs hard-handed correction before their next one.
 
So these TiTS 1st Chapter on LRG, is it confirmed that they won't deliver by release date? Just seems odd that they're the sole distributor for a brand new release like this. I'm interested on the music box but if I can't get it September 19, it's standard edition for me.

<edit> Just saw the GungHo press release:

The Steelbook® Edition will be available on launch day, September 19. The Bracer Edition is set to be delivered between November 15 and December 15, but the game and SteelBook® Edition contents included with it will be shipped separately to arrive by launch day.

Well that answers it but will there be additional shipping charge, is the new question.

<edit #2> Response from LRG rep:

Hello there, thank you for contacting Limited Run Games!

We're sorry for the confusion there! Due to a number of external factors, please keep in mind that we are never able to guarantee delivery dates for orders and estimates shown on product pages are only for when the title is expected to finish production and start shipping (not when all orders are expected to be delivered). If there's a unique situation where a title is expected to be all shipped within a certain timeframe, this will also be noted accordingly on the product page, so those will be your best place to keep an eye out on!

We hope you have a wonderful day!

I now see why people wince at the sight of LRG. This pains me as physical lover but I'll opt for Digital Deluxe this time since it comes with season pass while Steelbook Edition does not for the same price.
 
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Mattiful-Joe said:
The Lumiere edition is available and that steelbook looks extra fine.
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I ordered the Xbox version last week from PNP, but they ran out of stock by the time my order shipped. They were quick to refund and still sent the other game in the order for free, but I decided to get this version now. Even though it doesn't ship until October.
 
chibuki said:
I now see why people wince at the sight of LRG. This pains me as physical lover but I'll opt for Digital Deluxe this time since it comes with season pass while Steelbook Edition does not for the same price.
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I’ve been around since day one of LRG and breach and clear for vita. LRG has always been a scam company and apparently only worse as time progressed.
 
From LRG regarding Trails Steelbook edition: "This is a limited pre-order for a limited time. PS5 is limited to 1,500 and Switch is limited to 3,000"
I'd rather go through VGP, but if they never end up getting it then LRG might be the only way :/
 
As an aside, I really love this YouTube channel as it actually goes into the history of Japanese entertainment. This one is slightly on topic, answering "Why Do So Many Gacha Games Pretend to be Japanese?" They set contextual basis on significant historical background of contemporary Asian and Japanese culture, to include what started the anime "look". I'm only 35 minutes in, but it's another banger, IMO.

 
I don’t tend to pay much attention to these limited run physical edition game publishers, does anyone have experience with Superdeluxe? Thinking of picking up their version of the Earthion LE, it’s a little less ridiculous than LRG’s.
 
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